A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. El Paso for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit New Bern or El Paso?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit New Bern or El Paso? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

New Bern

New Bern is a laid back, quaint, and charming town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

El Paso

El Paso is a laid-back, low-key, and undiscovered city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

New Bern and El Paso: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or El Paso?

Both El Paso and New Bern have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. New Bern is more popular for its small town charm, while El Paso is known for its nightlife. New Bern is more touristy than El Paso and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. El Paso is popular for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is New Bern different from El Paso?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between El Paso and New Bern. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or El Paso?

Both New Bern and El Paso have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

New Bern is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or El Paso? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and El Paso can be an enjoyable experience.

New Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

El Paso has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Is New Bern or El Paso Better for Nightlife?

El Paso is a popular place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

El Paso has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or El Paso?

Shopping is a popular activity in both El Paso and New Bern.

New Bern is a great destination for shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Is New Bern or El Paso Better for Families?

El Paso is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in El Paso. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

Is New Bern or El Paso Better for Couples?

New Bern is very good for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

New Bern is a nice destination for couples. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is New Bern or El Paso Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

El Paso is a city with a few options for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is New Bern or El Paso a more walkable city?

New Bern is very good for its walkability. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

New Bern is somewhat walkable. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is El Paso Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in El Paso or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or El Paso?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in New Bern or El Paso to fill your time. In our opinion, El Paso has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in El Paso than New Bern. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in El Paso than New Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in El Paso, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in New Bern than El Paso. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New Bern that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in El Paso than New Bern if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in El Paso.

One day in New Bern or El Paso?

New Bern is a small town with plenty to do. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The city of El Paso offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or El Paso?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Bern has to offer.

El Paso is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in El Paso, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or El Paso?

New Bern is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

El Paso is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or El Paso?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. Since New Bern is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

El Paso is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between New Bern and El Paso, we can see that El Paso is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Bern Expensive? and Is El Paso Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or El Paso?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and El Paso, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.